Venture investments decline in 2012

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NEW YORK (AP) - A new study shows that funding for business startups declined in 2012, the first time that's happened in three years, as venture capitalists spent less money on fewer deals.

Capital intense sectors like clean technology and life sciences were among the hardest hit, according to the MoneyTree study released Friday. The study was conducted by PriceWaterHouseCoopers and the National Venture Capital Association, based on data from Thomson Reuters.

Startup investments fell 28 percent to $3.28 billion, compared with $4.57 billion a year earlier. There were 267 deals in all, a decline of more than 23 percent.

The trailing investments and declining number of deals continued into the final quarter.